HR 1063: Henderson, Chief Gordon; honoring the life and dedicated service; condolences

House Resolution 1063

By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Blackmon of the 146th, Lumsden of the 12th, Barton of the 5th, and Hitchens of the 161st

A RESOLUTION

Commending and honoring the life and dedicated service of Chief Gordon Henderson; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Mr. Charles “Gordon” Henderson, age 75, of Stockbridge, Georgia, passed away Friday, September, 5, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service spanning nearly five decades; and

WHEREAS, Chief Henderson, a native of the “Georgia Model Community” in Rome, Georgia, was a veteran of the Rome-Floyd Fire Department, where he began his career on November 2, 1975, and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as caption at Station One, being promoted to deputy chief in 1988, and leading the department with distinction as chief until his retirement on January 1, 2015; and

WHEREAS, his leadership was instrumental in the department, as noted by current Rome- Floyd Fire Chief Troy Brock and retired Battalion Chief Phil Langston, who recalls Chief Henderson’s key role in securing the land for the Firefighters Memorial in Rome; and

WHEREAS, Chief Henderson served as president of the Georgia State firefighters Association from 2000 to 2002, as a district vice president for the Georgia Association of fire Chiefs, and held multiple leadership roles within the National Fire Protection Association, including serving as principal member of the national professional qualifications committee for firefighters; and

WHEREAS, following his retirement from the Rome-Floyd Fire Department, Chief Henderson continued to serve the fire profession statewide as executive Director of the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council, a role he held from 2015 to 2022, ensuring compliance with all regulations and collaborating with officials and fire service organizations throughout Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Director Gordon Henderson was succeeded in the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council by Executive Director Randy Toms, who recognizes the legacy left for him to follow; and

WHEREAS, Chief Gordon Henderson is survived by his loving wife, Dawn Traylor Henderson; his children, Jason and Kimbell; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and four brothers.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body extend the deepest sympathies to the family of Chief Gordon Henderson, as well as honor and commed his many years of exemplary service and outstanding contributions to the fire serive and the citizens of Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Chief Gordon Henderson.